Worried about choosing goldendoodle breed

[Elizabeth Anderson]

I'm hoping that I can get some opinions from experienced doodle owners. I thought I'd researched pretty thoroughly when I chose the goldendoodle breed - I wanted a friendly, happy dog who would be good with my 5 year old. I chose a Northern California breeder who I found a recommendation for on this site. Shortly before our puppy choosing day, I read threads by people who said this is an extremely high energy, stubborn, hard to train breed. It really scared me. We went down and chose a puppy yesterday - he's a mini, although he's big and will probably get to 55 pounds the breeder said. I only had an hour to choose and was very confused, and scared after seeing all these negative reviews of the breed and especially minis, and we chose the male who the breeder said was more boisterous than his sister but not a wild child. Anyway, I know puppies are hard, but we contiually need to keep him from jumping up and biting and humping and destroying things and barking, and while I'm fine going through this with a puppy, I'm now questioning my choice to get this breed as I don't want to deal with a too high energy, stubborn dog who's hard to train for the next 15 years and am having thoughts about returning him before we get in too deep. I'm signed up for puppy training in a month (he's 10 weeks old) and contacted a trainer today about private training so I can get started right away, but I guess what I'm wanting to hear is whether there are people out there who regret getting this breed of dog after they've matured past puppyhood. I know this isn't the most likely forum to get those kinds of views, but thought I'd ask anyway. Or I'd love to hear from others who were concerned about this negative reputation but stuck it out to end up with a sweet, manageable dog in adulthood. Also, how long before things calmed down with your puppy? Thanks for any advice!

[Heather]

I have Two Goldendoodles, both were very easy to train. Everyday will be different. some good and some more challenging. My concern is that you are questioning it during the most Exciting time, when Most are usually head over heals in Love!!! Even the BEST trained Dogs make mistakes and have off days!!! That being said, my neighbor got a goldendoodle puppy from my breeder and he was definitely Much more HIGH ENERGY than mine. Her house is always High Energy and NEVER relaxed. We are the opposite and Very relaxed. We had the same trainer, who explained that Most dogs take on the personality of the family they live with!!! You must be willing to invest the time, patience, and Most of ALL Unconditional Love even when it's a Tough Day!!! Good Luck with your Decision-

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

All I can say is if the commitment is not there right now, please return this puppy. It is so much harder on them as they get older to be re-homed. Good luck with your decision. Here is a recent discussion that might give you hope.

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/update-thanks-for-the-supp...

[Diana Erhart]

It sounds to me like you are just having some pre-puppy jitters. You have obviously thought this through with already having training lined up for your guy. I have an ALD and would say that he was a very crazy puppy. Yes, there were times that I was at my wits end with him. But with the help of good training he turned into a wonderful little man. I noticed that about every 6 months he took a step forward in his maturity. By the time he was 2 he was pretty much settled down. He is now almost 7 and everyone who meets him comments on what a calm, sweet guy he is. I did not have young children at the time but would just recommend as others have that you train the children along with the dog! My Charlie's best friend (when we lived in Texas) was an 85 pound goldendoodle named Sam. Sam was a sweet, calm dog even when he was a puppy. Sure he had some mischief in him but he was not nearly as crazy of a puppy as my Charlie. Both of them are/were (as puppies) just goofy funny. I hope this helps to calm your pre-puppy jitters!

[BG and Gavin]

I agree with all of the feedback you received so far.  My doodle has the sweetest disposition you can imagine.  He was a total land shark as a puppy, but I trained and exercised and he learned the rules and I have the dog I always dreamed of.  If you are not prepared to consistently put in an hour a day (at the minimum) for training and exercise, your results will be less than favourable.  Please have a look at the tips I posted in this discussion:  http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/everything-i-ever-needed-t...

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Having a puppy is hard.  It is a lot of work, a lot of time, and a lot of frustration but once you get through all that it CAN be great but the work never ends.  They will always need you to be the boss and to provide a lot of exercise and attention.  Most doodles love attention and with a young child in the house you need to ask yourself if you will have the time to give the dog the attention, exercise, and training that it ineeds.  I have doodles (one is a mini at 24 lbs and the other is a small medium at about 30).  They both have their Canine Good Citizen certificates so we have done a LOT of training with them but they still need exercise and attention or they get out of control.  I recently started a new job and often bring work home with me.  They aren't getting the same attention that they used to get as I'm still trying to figure out how to balance everything in my new life and Cubbie has recently started getting distructive and this weekend i left them in the backyard for just 2 minutes to run inside and answer the front door and in those 2 minutes they had managed to each dig a nice muddy hole in the yard.  I was mad at first, but know that it is is my fault.  I wasn't watching them and they hadn't gotten a long walk in a couple of days. 

If you don't think that you can put in the time to train the pup like he needs to be trained to get him to be the dog that you want him to be, you would be wise to return him to the breeder now.  He is going to be coming up on some very important training and socialization periods in his life very soon so it would be easiest for the new family if they were able to work with him during those periods.  I know this won't be an easy decision but think about what is best for your family and what is best for the puppy.  It will be much easier for him to change homes now instead of when he is a  year or 2 old.  I have a rescue doodle that I adopted at 2 and he had a lot of issues that we had to work through.

[Suzanne Newman]

Hi Elizabeth, 

Like you, we have a brand new baby goldendoodle.  We brought Whidbey home on February 23rd, and she is just now 8 weeks old.  Sounds like our puppies will reach about the same weight too. 

I did a LOT of research on this breed before choosing it.  Yes- they are a bit rambunctious, but the thing is, with proper time invested in your baby they will adjust very well.  I cannot believe just how SMART they are!   Here are some things I have learned about Whidbey that might help you going forward:

1.  They always like to be with their people.  If you leave your puppy alone in a room they will cry.  At this tender young age everything is new.  It is fascinating- and it can also be scary.  I just allow Whidbey to hang with me all day long while I work, and she is very happy to be with me. 

2.  I am learning that when she barks- to reach out and gently grab her mouth and say- "NO BARK!"  I can already notice her stopping when I make that attempt to do so.  Your doodle is likely VERY smart and will do so also.  

3.  Take your baby on several walks per day if you can.  I get Whidbey out at least 4-5 times daily

I have not seen ANY stubbornness that is not being overcome with her.  As a matter of fact, quite the contrary.  Doodles usually have Golden Retriever personalities- and thus, your baby will just want to please you!!  

I know you wanted to hear from someone who has had their dog for a long time- and I have learned how they are by people who have them.  They are truly "the best dog" you would ever want to be owned by!  Have patience, be loving but strong and firm, and your baby will be amazing!!

Suzanne

[Enid Ferner]

Yes, the goldendoodle "breed" has so much to live up to! On the breeder's web sites they're toted as the most wonderful and perfect dogs that ever lived. By reading this you would think they were born this way. Well they are not, they are just a mix of two breeds, like many many other dogs. (And a very nice mix I must say...) With the right owners/situations they can develop in to awesome dogs, just like many other mixes, but when they're puppies they're still just puppies. Puppies are energetic, they like to chew things, they need house training, they need training, period. This takes ALOT of effort and time, no matter what the breed is!
If you don't really have the time or energy for this pup at this point then the kindest thing would be to return it to the breeder now while you can. JMO.

[Elizabeth & *Kosci*.]

Everyone tells me how wonderful my groodle (goldendoodle) is.
She never barks, lyes at my feet, lets us cuddle and nurse her on her back like a baby,
BUT. She started off as a puppy. Mouthing things and hands,bouncy, etc.
BUT I trained her from weekly puppy class to now weekly advanced classes and about to complete our Delta testing.
I tell everyone that she is so good because we invest TIME into her.
You can do it. It's like having a child,you teach them how you would like them to behave.
I wouldn't swap the groodle for anything in fact I picked up a 10 week old much awaited puppy yesterday.

[Suzanne Newman]

AMEN Elizabeth!!  

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

SO TRUE!! I was paying my bill at my vet's office one day and had Ollie with me and he was in a sit stay by my side.  A woman, her husband, and their 3 kids came up and started talking to me but I kept Ollie in a stay.  The woman made a comment about him being so well behaved and that she really wanted one like that.  Before I could even say anything, the vet tech jumped in and said "he is only that well behaved because they work with him ALL the time.  They take weekly classes and then come in to work with him on other days."  I was so proud that she had recognized all my hard work!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's great that tech recognized the amount of work you've put in and that she tells people that's what it takes to have a well-behaved dog.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

yeah it is.  If i had a tail, it would have been wagging!!